Full-color toner image fixing method and apparatus

Abstract

A method for fixing full-color toner images on an image receiving member so that the fixed toner images selectively exhibit different glossinesses includes the step of bringing the transferred toner images into contact with a heater, with linear speeds being selectively switched in such a manner that the fixed toner images exhibit a mean surface roughness in a range of 9.5 to 16 μm at a linear speed (A), and the fixed toner images exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm at a linear speed (B), wherein the linear speed (A) is in a range of 100 to 300 mm/sec, the linear speed (B) is lower than the linear speed (A) by 25 mm/sec or more, and the image fixing temperatures are equal at the linear speeds (A) and (B). A method for fixing full-color toner images with high glossiness on an image receiving member includes the step of bringing the transferred toner images into contact with a belt so that the fixed toner images exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for fixing full-color toner images on an image receiving member so that the toner images, after fixing, selectively exhibit different glossinesses, comprising the step of: 
       bringing toner images transferred to said image receiving member into contact with a heater with linear speeds being selectively switched in such a manner that the toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness in a range of 9.5 to 16 μm when fixed at a linear speed (A) at an image fixing temperature (T), and exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm when fixed at a linear speed (B) at an image fixing temperature (T′),  
       wherein said linear speed (A) is in a range of 100 to 300 mm/sec, said linear speed (B) is lower than said linear speed (A) by 25 mm/sec or more, and said image fixing temperatures (T) and (T′) are equal.  
     
     
       2. The full-color toner image fixing method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said linear speed (B) is in a range of ⅓ to ⅔ said linear speed (A). 
     
     
       3. The full-color toner image fixing method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heater is in the form of a belt. 
     
     
       4. The full-color toner image fixing method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the toner images are produced using a full-color toner which comprises a coloring agent, a resin, and a release agent which is dispersed in said resin. 
     
     
       5. A method for fixing full-color toner images on an image receiving member so that the toner images, after fixing, selectively exhibit different glossinesses, comprising the step of: 
       bringing toner images transferred to said image receiving member into contact with a heater in the form of a belt with linear speeds being selectively switched in such a manner that the toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness in a range of 9.5 to 16 μm when fixed at a linear speed (A) at an image fixing temperature (T), and exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm when fixed at a linear speed (B) at an image fixing temperature (T′),  
       wherein said linear speed (A) is in a range of 100 to 300 mm/sec, said linear speed (B) is lower than said linear speed (A) by 25 mm/sec or more, and  
       wherein said image fixing temperatures (T) and (T′) are in a relationship of T<T′≦T+10° C., and said linear speeds A and B are in a relationship of ⅓A≦B≦⅔A.  
     
     
       6. A method for fixing full-color toner images with high glossiness on an image receiving member, comprising the step of: 
       bringing toner images transferred to said image receiving member into contact with an image fixing belt so that said toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm.  
     
     
       7. The full-color toner image fixing method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said mean surface roughness of said toner images, after fixing, is different from a maximum height by less than 10 μm. 
     
     
       8. The full-color toner image fixing method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said belt has a surface portion with a mean surface roughness of 5 μm or less in contact with said full-color toner images. 
     
     
       9. The full-color toner image fixing method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the toner images are produced using a full-color toner which comprises a coloring agent, a resin, and a release agent which is dispersed in said resin. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for fixing full-color toner images on an image receiving member so that the toner images, after fixing, selectively exhibit different glossinesses, comprising: 
       a heater for heating toner images transferred to said image receiving member in such a configuration that said heater is brought into contact with said toner images, with linear speeds being selectively switched in such a manner that the toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness in a range of 9.5 to 16 μm when fixed at a linear speed (A) at an image fixing temperature (T), and exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm when fixed at a linear speed (B) at an image fixing temperature (T′),  
       wherein said linear speed (A) is in a range of 100 to 300 mm/sec, said linear speed (B) is lower than said linear speed (A) by 25 mm/sec or more, and said image fixing temperatures (T) and (T′) are equal.  
     
     
       11. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said linear speed (B) is in a range of ⅓ to ⅔ said linear speed (A). 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said heater is in the form of a belt. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the toner images are produced using a full-color toner which comprises a coloring agent, a resin, and a release agent which is dispersed in said resin. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for fixing full-color toner images on an image receiving member so that the toner images, after fixing, selectively exhibit different glossinesses, comprising: 
       a heater in the form of a belt for heating toner images transferred to said image receiving member in such a configuration that said heater is brought into contact with said toner images, with linear speeds being selectively switched in such a manner that the toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness in a range of 9.5 to 16 μm when fixed at a linear speed (A) at an image fixing temperature (T), and exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm when fixed at a linear speed (B) at an image fixing temperature (T′),  
       wherein said linear speed (A) is in a range of 100 to 300 mm/sec, said linear speed (B) is lower than said linear speed (A) by 25 mm/sec or more, and  
       wherein said image fixing temperatures (T) and (T′) are in a relationship of T<T′≦T+10° C., and said linear speeds A and B are in a relationship of ⅓A≦B≦⅔A.  
     
     
       15. An apparatus for fixing full-color toner images with high glossiness on an image receiving member, comprising: 
       an image fixing belt for heating toner images so that said toner images, after fixing, exhibit a mean surface roughness of less than 8 μm by bringing said belt into contact with toner images transferred to said image receiving member.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said mean surface roughness of said toner images, after fixing, is different from a maximum height by less than 10 μm. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said belt has a surface portion with a mean surface roughness of 5 μm or less in contact with said full-color toner images. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the toner images are produced using a full-color toner which comprises a coloring agent, a resin, and a release agent which is dispersed in said resin.